When will Online Sports Betting Launch in North Carolina?
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Yes, sports betting is legal in North Carolina. In-person sportsbooks are currently taking bets at the Harrah's Cherokee casinos in Cherokee and Murphy and the Catawba Two Kings Casino in Kings Mountain. Plus, another eight in-person sportsbooks are coming to professional sports venues in the state, and online sports betting will launch March 11—before 2024 March Madness tips off.
Here’s everything you need to know about the state of sports betting in North Carolina.
While real money online sports betting is legal in North Carolina, no NC online sportsbooks have launched yet. None of the online sportsbooks discussed on this page are currently live and each are still subject to regulatory approval. Regulators have announced March 11, 2024, as the anticipated launch date for online sports betting in NC.
North Carolina Sports Betting Updates
- Jan. 24, 2024: The North Carolina State Lottery Commission revealed March 11 as the day that legal online sports betting can begin in North Carolina.
- Jan. 5, 2024: The North Carolina Lottery Commission’s Sports Betting Committee met to set more rules for operators to follow before launch. No launch date was set, but the committee agreed to meet again on Jan. 10.
- Jan. 4, 2024: The committee announced a tentative deadline of Jan. 26 for sportsbooks to provide proof of internal controls.
- Jan. 2, 2024: The committee announced that seven online sportsbooks applied for North Carolina sports betting licenses before its Dec. 27 deadline, including BetMGM, Bet365, DraftKings, ESPN Bet, Fanatics, FanDuel, and Underdog Sports.
- Dec. 29, 2023: Gov. Roy Cooper said North Carolina online sports betting should launch in time for March Madness 2024.
- Dec. 13, 2023: The committee finalized the state’s sports betting rules.
NC Sports Betting Bill Explained
Gov. Roy Cooper signed the North Carolina sports betting bill HB 347 into law on June 14, 2023. The new law authorizes the launch of up to 13 online sportsbooks (11 commercial and two tribal) and eight in-person sportsbooks at pro sports venues in North Carolina. The North Carolina Lottery Commission’s Sports Betting Committee also set sports betting rules in late 2023 that require sportsbooks to partner with a pro sports organization in the state. Eleven qualifying organizations include:
• Charlotte Hornets (NBA)
• Carolina Hurricanes (NHL)
• Carolina Panthers (NFL)
• Charlotte FC (MLS)
• NC Courage (NWSL)
• Charlotte Motor Speedway
• North Wilkesboro Speedway
• NASCAR
• Quail Hollow Country Club
• Sedgefield Country Club
• PGA Tour
Online sportsbooks must agree to pay a $1 million five-year licensing fee and an 18% tax on revenue to obtain a North Carolina sports betting license. The state prohibits sportsbooks from deducting promotional credits from taxable revenue.
The law also states that you must be 21 or older to bet on sports in North Carolina. After some debate, the state decided to allow betting on in-state college teams, which means you can bet on UNC Tar Heels and Duke Blue Devils basketball, for example.
Experts estimate that North Carolina online sportsbooks could take in as much as $6.8 billion in bets by the state’s second year of legal sports betting. That would generate more than $610 million in revenue for the state.
Which NC Sports Betting Apps Will Be Legal?
Online sportsbooks must partner up with a pro sports franchise, league, golf club, or racetrack to obtain one of NC’s online sports betting licenses. However, Caesars will get licensed as a sports betting supplier instead because of its partnership with two tribal casinos in the state. Here’s a look at which sportsbooks have applied and what sports entity partnership deals are in place.
NC Mobile Sports Betting Timeline
- Jan. 24, 2024: The NCLC announces a March 11 launch date for online sports betting.
- Dec. 29, 2023: Gov. Roy Cooper said North Carolina online sports betting should launch in time for March Madness 2024.
- June 14, 2023: Cooper signed North Carolina sports betting bill HB 347 into law at a ceremony held at Spectrum Center, home of the NBA's Charlotte Hornets.
- June 6, 2023: The North Carolina House approved Senate amendments to HB 347.
- June 1, 2023: With some amendments, the North Carolina Senate voted 37-11 in favor of HB 347.
- March 30, 2023: The North Carolina House voted 64-45 in favor of HB 347.
- March 13, 2023: Rep. Jason Saine introduced the North Carolina sports betting bill HB 347, seeking to legalize online sports betting and in-person sports betting off tribal land.
Retail Sports Betting in North Carolina
There are in-person sportsbooks at the Harrah's Cherokee casinos in Cherokee and Murphy and the Catawba Two Kings Casino in Kings Mountain. Plus, the new law allows for the launch of another eight in-person sportsbooks at professional sports venues in the state.
Here’s a little more information on North Carolina’s three tribal casinos with in-person sportsbooks.
Harrah's Cherokee Casino Resort
777 Casino Drive, Cherokee, NC
Caesars Sportsbook is on the casino floor adjacent to the World Series of Poker Room. The sportsbook has ticket windows and self-serve kiosks, elevated viewing areas, HD and 4K TVs, and a 90-foot game wall.
Harrah's Cherokee Valley River Casino & Hotel
777 Casino Parkway, Murphy, NC
Caesars Sportsbook is just off the casino floor. It has betting kiosks and staffed windows, viewing areas with recliner chairs, and a 32-foot high-definition screen.
Catawba Two Kings Casino
538 Kings Mountain Blvd., Kings Mountain, NC
The Catawba Two Kings Sportsbook is a small room in the temporary facility, featuring betting windows, TVs, and 30 betting kiosks spread around the room and the casino.
What Sports Can I Bet On in NC?
Anyone who is 21 or older can bet on professional and college sports, including football, basketball, baseball, hockey, soccer, golf, and more. Plus, there are no restrictions on in-state college sports betting, giving Tar Heels and Blue Devils fans the chance to bet on some of the best college basketball in the country. You can also expect North Carolina sportsbooks to post odds for various international sports.
North Carolina Sports Betting FAQ
Can you bet on sports in North Carolina?
Sports betting is legal in North Carolina. You can currently bet in person at sportsbooks inside Harrah's Cherokee casinos in Cherokee and Murphy and the Catawba Two Kings Casino in Kings Mountain. Plus, online sports betting is scheduled to launch statewide ahead of March Madness on March 11.
What sports betting apps are legal in North Carolina?
North Carolina’s new sports betting law allows for up to 13 online sports betting licenses. So far, seven online sportsbooks have applied for North Carolina sports betting licenses, including BetMGM, Bet365, DraftKings, ESPN Bet, Fanatics, FanDuel, and Underdog Sports. Caesars will be in the mix as well, as it already runs retail sportsbooks in North Carolina.
How can I bet online in North Carolina?
Once North Carolina’s first online sportsbooks launch, you can bet online with these sportsbooks by opening an account, making a deposit, browsing through the latest odds, picking the odds you want to bet on, and filling out an online betslip.
What’s the legal betting age in North Carolina?
You must be 21 or older to bet on sports in North Carolina.
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